Mikel Arteta's plan to guarantee Gabriel Martinelli realises his full potential at Arsenal

Mikel Arteta has often used Gabriel Martinelli coming in off the left wing for Arsenal (Image: Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

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Since arriving at Arsenal in December, Mikel Arteta has shown great faith in Gabriel Martinelli, starting him six times in the nine games he was available.

In each of these games, however, he has decided against playing the 18-year-old as a central striker, the position he made his first two starts for the club playing, scoring three goals in the process.

Even when Alexandre Lacazette dropped out of form, the Spaniard chose to bring Eddie Nketiah into the fold rather than move Martinelli infield. Instead, he kept the youngster playing out wide which, especially when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's suspension was over, caused debate.

Despite Martinelli's exploits through the middle under Emery, Arteta has had reasons for playing him out wide.

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"They are but with the squad balance we have at the moment to play on that position on the left we don't have five players because we're using one of them to play as a left-back who is not a left-back," Arteta said in March.

So we're just trying to adapt to the situation we have. Today try to put in the team, players that have a goal threat that can be successful for the team and that's part of managing the players that we have."

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Currently, the way the Arsenal side is set up, Arteta has set out clear demands for his central strikers. Not only do they have to contribute goals, but they also have contribute defensively but possibly more importantly in Martinelli's case, they have to be able to play with their back to goal.

This was a key reason why Lacazette stayed in the side for so long despite his goal drought and was also a noticeable aspect of Nketiah's game when he was brought in to replace him. Sacrificing themselves at times by dropping as deep as their midfielders to create space for the wide players to fly into and incidentally, Martinelli proved he was extremely well suited to the role of the wide forward.

Taking the Aubameyang role where he is facing the goal the majority of the time Arsenal have the ball has helped both him and the side greatly. Yes, he's been able to reach double figures in goals as the way he drifts in off the left is incredibly smart but from their he's also been able to contribute to the patterns of play where he isn't the final receiver of the ball.

With these patterns, his relationship with Bukayo Saka has been key as they often reverse their runs to confuse opposition full-backs and put doubts in their heads. This was most evident against Bournemouth in the FA Cup when the pair had Adam Smith doing exactly what they wanted him to do which left each of them open at the right moments and led to Saka's opener on the right.

As Arsenal's left wing has been where Arsenal have concentrated most of their attacks, it's only logical that Arteta keeps one of his most potent weapons there whenever possible. Especially as he doesn't have quite the same impact off the right.

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In the future, however, Arteta has admitted that Martinelli could move back infield for him. As it stands though, and especially if Aubameyang leaves in the summer, more of Martinelli on the left can be expected.

"He can play any of the three positions up top depending on where you ask him to do and the type of movements and type of positions he needs to take but he can be comfortable," Arteta said in January.

"Maybe in future he can develop as a No.9. more, probably yes, but at the moment any of the three."